Cross-cultural Communication Idioms
| Idiom | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Lost in translation (adj) | A misunderstanding due to language differences. | The marketing slogan was lost in translation, leading to unintended consequences in the foreign market. |
| Speaking different languages (V) | Communicating in different languages or using different cultural references. | The business partners were speaking different languages, making it difficult to reach an agreement. |
| Language barrier (n) | A difficulty in communicating due to language differences. | The language barrier made it challenging to negotiate the terms of the contract. |
| A clash of cultures (n) | A conflict or disagreement due to cultural differences. | The merger of the two companies was complicated by a clash of cultures. |
| Get Your Wires Crossed (V) | A misunderstanding or miscommunication. | We got our wires crossed at the meeting, as the parties had different interpretations of the proposal. |
| At cross purposes | Having different goals or objectives. | The two teams were working at cross purposes, leading to inefficiency and delays. |
| Apples and oranges (n) | Things that are very different and cannot be compared. | Comparing our company’s culture to theirs is like comparing apples and oranges; they operate in completely different ways. |
| A foreign concept (n) | Something that is unfamiliar or strange. | The idea of remote work was a foreign concept to the traditional company. |
| Talking past each other (v) | Communicating without understanding each other’s points of view. | The negotiators were talking past each other, unable to find common ground. |
| A communication gap (n) | A lack of understanding or communication between people. | The communication gap between the two teams led to misunderstandings and delays. |
| Meet someone halfway (v) | To compromise or find a middle ground. | To resolve the conflict, we had to meet halfway and find a solution that satisfied both parties. |
| Bridge the gap (v) | Getting closer in communication. Clearing up misunderstandings. | Bridging the gap between our cultures was essential for successful collaboration. |
| Find common ground (v) | To discover shared interests or experiences. | We were able to find common ground by discussing our shared passion for innovation. |
| Breaking down barriers (v) | Overcoming obstacles or difficulties. | Breaking down the language barrier was crucial for effective communication. |
| Smooth things over (v) | Resolve a conflict or disagreement. | The mediator helped to smooth things over and reach a mutually agreeable solution. |
| Open doors (v) | Create new opportunities or possibilities. | Understanding each other’s cultural perspectives opened doors for future collaboration. |
| Speaking the same language (v) | Understanding each other well. | When we started speaking the same language (both literally and figuratively), our communication improved significantly. |
| Have a shared vision (V) | To have a common goal or objective. | Having a shared vision for the project helped us overcome cultural differences and work together effectively. |
| Walk a mile in someone’s shoes (v) | To try to understand someone else’s perspective. | To truly understand our international partners, we need to walk a mile in their shoes and appreciate their cultural context. |
| Cultural sensitivity (n) | Awareness and respect for cultural differences. | Cultural sensitivity is essential for building strong relationships with clients from different backgrounds. |
Cross-cultural Communication Idioms
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